Match-machine.



W. ROBERTS.

MATCH MACHINE. v

' Patented Aug. 14, 1917. Q

5 shears-sugar APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 19 1?) a q q Q MN 0 xw\\ H mm Maw mm W g r H F; "HM-BU 4 Q m h 1 r \ATMMMI j Wm Nh Na ww e NR Q W W. ROBERTS.

MATCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR; 30. 1911.

w. ROBERTS- MATCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 30. I917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4 w. ROBERTS.

MATCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

v5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. ROBERTS MATCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1911.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT omuon.

WILLIAM ROBERTS, OF BARBER/ION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COM- PAN'Y, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MATCH-IMACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1917. Serial No. 158,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of match machines, termed continuous machines, in which is employed an endless carrier by means of which splints, in separated rows, are transported through the match-making path, including a paraffinapplying station and a head composition applying station or stations.

The invention has particular reference to mechanism whereby those parts of the splint carrier which are located immediately above the paraffin and composition stations can be positively lifted, and, at the same time, the machine can be stopped (although the composition-applying roller continues to rotate as usual,) thereby obviating any liability of the carrier, with its depending splints, overrunning the respective stations when the machine is being thrown out of operation; and whereby, also, the starting of the machine and the lowering of the said parts of the splint carrier can be simultaneously effected.

The present invention may be described as a. modification of or improvement upon the apparatus forming the subiect of an application filed by Joseph C. Donnelly and myself on the 23d day of May 1916, under Serial No. 99,284, which apparatus employs raising and lowering mechanism for the splint carrier, brake means for the main shaft of the match machine, plural cam mechanism, and connections operable thereby to throw off the power from the main shaft. apply the brake means, and actuate the first named mechanism to raise a part or parts of the carrier; and the converse. According to my present invention, I dispense with the plural cam mechanism and its directly associated elements, and use in lieu thereof and for the same purpose, a simplified construction and organization of mechanisms which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a atch m c ne embo y g a term of lvention; the parts being shown in their normal running position.

Fig. 2 is a plan, partly in section, of the improved mechanism, showing the motor, the power shaft of the match machine, and associated elements.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the improved controlling mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line 44 of Fig. 2, showing the prake and the actuating mechanism there- Fig. 5 is a similar section through the main drive shaft and adjuncts, as on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the auxiliary shaft, the positively-driven gear hub thereon and the dog-actuated key for temporarily locking said hub to the shaft, showing the shiftable abutment members so positioned that the forward member is engaged by the key-dog and the key accordingly set to release the gear from the said shaft.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the abutment members shifted to the left (forwardly); the dog being positioned to lock the gear to the shaft. In this view dotted lines indicate the key and its actuating dog in the positions which they are caused to assume by the engagement of the dog with the rearward abutment when the shaft has made a half rotation, thereby releasing the gear.

Fig. 8 is a sectional perspective view of the said gear, showing the internal construction of the hub.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the auxiliary shaft with its key and dog carrying element; the key and dog and associated parts being illustrated as detached.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the crank disk and cam element for actuating the lifting and brake rods respectively, showing the wrist pin connection for the lowering end of the lifting rod.

Fig. 11 is a skeleton perspective view showing the movable key and its associated devices, the brake and the operating mechanism therefor, and the manual shifting mechanism for determining the operative and inoperative conditions of the key and brake controlling elements.

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

through a part of the paraffin tank and the chain supporting and lifting frame.

Fig. 13 is a similar section through the chain supporting and lifting frame, and associated parts adjacent the composition chest.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a part of the endless splint-carrier chain of a continuous match machine, which chain, in the form illustrated, comprises a series of perforated plates linked together at their edges, and provided with marginal gear racks throughout the length of the chain. This chain suitably supported and guided throughout its circuit, and pairs of spaced power-driven gear wheels are arranged at intervals in the circuit, as indicated at 21, so as to mesh with the gear racks and impel the chain as usual. These wheels are oper atively connected through appropriate shafts and gearing with a drive pulley 22 which is loosely mounted on one end of the main shaft 23 of the match machine; a suitable clutch 24 being provided whereby the pulley can be rendered fast or loose on the shaft as desired. When the pulley is loose the power is transmitted therefrom through the gearing to the carrier chain, without actuation of the main shaft of the match machine, but when such pulley is clutched to the shaft, said shaft and the usual splint cutting and other mechanisms associated therewith are actuated concurrently with the splint carrier. as they are produced are inserted into the successive rows of perforations of the chain plates and are thereby transported through the match making path. In this path are included the paraffin-containing tank 25 with the contents of which the traveling splints are treated, and also one or more composition applying structures (of which one is illustrated at 26) by means of which the composition for the ignitable bulbs or heads is applied to the free ends of the splints after they leave the paraffin bath.

27 designates a power-driven shaft having its hearings in suitable standards on a base 28 in rear of the main shaft. This shaft is conveniently driven from a suitable source of power, as, for example, an electric motor 29. the shaft of which is operatively connected with the shaft 27 through meshing gear wheels 30, 31 on the respective shafts.

On the shaft 27 is mounted a pulley 32 which is connected with the pulley 22 on the shaft 23 of the match machine, by means of a belt 3 A suitable clutch is provided whereby the pulley 32 may be locked or unlocked to or from its shaft as desired, said clutch including a member 3%. slidingly keyed on the shaft 27.

35 designates a brake shoe positioned adjacent the periphery of the pulley 22. This The splints as rapidly" shoe comprises a block of appropriate material seated in a socket in one arm of a lever 36 which is fulcrumed in a suitablydisposed bracket 37. The other arm of the lever is connected to a rearwardly-extending brake-operating rod 38. A spring 39, encircling this rod and bearing against a shoulder 40 thereon and a lug 41 on the base for the bracket 37, tends normally to maintain the rod in brake-releasing position. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The rod 38 is pivot ally connected with a. depending crank arm 42 fast on one end of a rocker shaft e3 hav ing its bearings in brackets 44 on the base plate 28 adjacent the shaft 27; whereby when the rocker-shaft is actuated as herein after described, the crank lever is moved. in a manner to pull the brake rod 38 and apply the brake to the periphery of the drive pulley 22.

45, 46 designate two carrier supporting frames pivotally mounted above and in close relation to the parafiin tank and the composition chest, respectively.

The free end of the frame is connected by means of a link 47 with a crank arm 48 which is carried by a shaft 49 having its bearings in appropriate brackets on the frame posts. The shaft 49 is also provided with a crank arm 50 which is connected by means of a rod 51 with one arm of av crank lever 52 which is borne by a shaft 53 having its bearings in brackets on the frame posts adjacent the drive mechanism; the other arm of this lever being pivotally connected to a link or rod 54, by the vertical movement of which the crank and link connections are actuated to effect the raising or the lowering, as desired, of the frame 45 and the portion of the carrier supported thereby.

The frame 46 is provided with the usual laterally-projecting anti-friction rollers 55, against each of which bears a sector cam 56 carried by a rocker-shaft 57 having its hearings in brackets on the frame 58 of the composition structure, vhereby when the shaft 57 is properly actuated the frame 46, with the proximate portion of the splint carrier, may be raised or lowered as desired.

The rocker shaft 57 is provided at each end with a crank arm 59 which is connected by means of a link 60 with a crank arm 61 on the end of an elevated. rocker-shaft 62. This shaft extends from side to side of the machine, and has its bearings in ap propriate brackets on the frame posts. The shaft 62 is provided at each end with a lever 63 which is connected by means of parallel rods 64: with a similar lever 65 on a rock shaft ()6 located above the drive mechanism, said shaft 66 having its bearings in brackets on the frame posts. On the shaft 66 is a crank-arm 67 which is connected to the upper end of the rod an; whereby when the latter rod is actuated as above mentioned, the rods 64 are moved longitudinally in opposite directions to each other so as to oper ate the sector cams 56 and thus raise or lower the frame &6 as the movement of the rocker shaft 57 may dictate.

The rods 6ft are preferably connected by supporting rock levers at various points throughout their length.

The mechanism above described, excepting as hereinafter particularly pointed out, is or may be similar in construction and operation to the corresponding mechanism illustrated in the application Serial No. 99,284 aforesaid.

Adjacent to and in parallelism with the shaft 27 is an auxiliary shaft 68 having its bearings in standards 69 on the base-plate 28. On the shaft 68 is loosely mounted a spur wheel 70 of special construction which meshes with and is constantly driven by a pinion 71 on the shaft 27. The hub of the wheel 70 is mounted to turn on a bushing 72 which is fast on the shaft 68, said hub being provided on its inner surface with a series of equally spaced recesses 73 which extend parallel to the axis of the hub and constitute, in effect, key ways.

The bushing has formed thereon at one end a head 74: having a lateral extension 7 5 which is recessed, as at 7 6, adjacent the spur wheel, to provide a seat for a vibratory outwardly-projecting arm 77 constituting a dog. The inner end of this arm is pivoted to the head of the bushing by means of an integral stud 78 on the arm. This end of the arm carries a key 79 which by actuation of the arm may be positioned to enter any of the key ways 7 3 in the hub of the spur wheel and thus lock the latter to the aux iliary shaft, as will presently appear. In the present instance, the key 79 comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical member formed integral with the arm and its pivot stud.

a This member is seated in a correspondingly formed recess 80 in the periphery of the bushing 72, the outer face of such member being rounded in conformity with the peripheral curvature of the hub, and the relative positions of the parts being such that when the dog is in horizontal position such outer surface is flush with the periphery of the hub; or, in other words, the key 79 is confined within the recess of the hub. V7 hen the dog is tilted on its axis from the horizontal position one edge of the key projects outwardly beyond the periphery of the hub. In the present instance such tilted position of the dog is effected by a spring 81 which, being confined in a socket 82 in the extension 75, takes against the shouldered portion of a stem 83 which is pivoted to the dog so as to extend into-the spring.

A simple and efficient means for actuating the dog in order to move the key 79 into locking and unlocking relation with the recessed hub of the spur wheel, at predetermined intervals, is as follows: 84, 85 designate two Lip-standing arms aflixed at their lower ends to spaced rock-shafts 86 which are journaled in the standards 69. These arms embrace the shaft 68, and are pivotally connected at their upper ends by means of a link 87 so that they may be swung as a unit in order to move the arms toward and from the shaft in alternation. One of the arms, in the present instance the arm 85, terminates in a ball 88 which enters the slotted end of an arm 89 extending from the lever 90 the rearward arm of which is con nected to the clutch member 34;, whereby when. said lever is operated to clutch the pulley 32 to the shaft 27 and thus start the match machine, the arms 8&, 85 are swung rearward to the position indicated in Fig. 6, and when the said lever is actuated to unclutch the pulley from the shaft 27 and thus stop the match machine, the arms 84, 85 are swung forward to the position shown in Fig. 7 The arm 8 is provided with a lateral shouldered portion 91, which, when such arm is in its rearward position, overhangs the path of the outer end of the dog 77 and thus serves as an abutment therefor to move the dog to and maintain it in horizontal position against the pressure of the spring as indicated in Fig. 6. Thus the peripheral continuity of the bushing is uninterrupted by the key 79 and the spur wheel 70 is free to turn on the bushing. W hen, however, the arms 84, 85 are swung forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 7, the shoulder 91 of the arm 84: is removed from the outer end of the dog, whereupon as the wheel rotates one of its internal ways 73 immediately bridges the key recess of the bushing, and the spring 81, expanding, raises the dog and swings the key 79 into registry with the adjacent internal way of the gear hub. This done the spur wheel is keyed to the hub and the latter, together with the auxiliary shaft, is, perforce, positively turned by said spur wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7. In a half rotation of the auxiliary shaft, the outer end of the dog abuts against a lateral shoulder 92 on the arm 85, thereby causing the dog to assume a horizontal or radial position, and disengaging the movable key 79 from the key-way in the hub of the spur wheel, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. This spur wheel then freely rotates on the auxiliary shaft, as before. When the arms 84:, 85 are swung to their previous or rearward position, the shoulder of the arm 85 is removed from the dog and the shoulder of the arm 8 1 is again positioned in the rotary path of the dog. Thereupon the spring 81, expanding, tilts the dog and swings the key 79 into registry with the then adjacent key-way 0f the spur wheel hub. Thus such clutch member wheel is keyed to the bushing and the latter, together with the auxiliary shaft, is positively turned by the spur wheel. In a half rotation of the auxiliary shaft the outer end of the dog abuts against the shoulder 91 of the arm Si, which causes the arm to assume the horizontal or radial position shown in Fig. 6, thus disengaging the key from the way in the hub of the spur wheel and permitting the rotation of said wheel independently of the shaft.

In the present instance, the lever 90 is fulcrumed on a bracket on a post 9% on the base plate, the forward arm of the lever being connected by me ns of a link to a crank arm 96 the hub of which is mounted to turn on a suitably-disposed frame post. To this hub is secured another crank arm 98 from which extends toward the front of the machine a handle rod by manipulating which the cranks may be turned, one way or the other as desired, in a manner to effect through the link and lever connections just described, the concurrent shifting of the on the positively driven shaft 27 and the positioning of the coupled arms 8%, 85. (See Fig. 11.)

The outer end of the auxiliary shaft has aflixed thereto a disk 100 to one face of which, eccentrically thereof, is pivotally connected the lower end of the link or red by means of a wristpin 101, whereby during the rotation of said disk, by actuation of the shaft 68, said rod is raised or lowered, thereby effecting the raising and permitting the lowering of the carrier in respect to the paraffin and composition tanks.

The disk 100 is equipped with a peripheral cam 102 a 'ainst which bears a roller 103 on an up-p ejecting crank arm 10% fast on the rocker shaft 43 carrying the crank arm to which the brake rod 38 is connected, as above described. The cam is so formed and positioned in relation to the wrist pin connection of the rod 5% with the disk, that when the rod is in its lowermost position (as indicated in Fig. l) the roller 103 bears against the low portion of the cam and the brake is free from the pulley 22 on the shaft of the match machine. At this stage the pulley 32 is clutched to the power driven shaft 27 and the arms S l, 85 are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the match machine thus being in operation and the auxiliary shaft being idle. vVhen, however, it is desired to stop the match machine, the handle rod is pulled forward, thereby unclutching the pulley 32 from the power-driven shaft 27, and shifting the arms S l, 85 to the rearward position illustrated in Fig. 7. In this operation the spur wheel is instantly locked to the auxiliary shaft and the latter is, perforce, positively rotated. When the auxiliary shaft, together with the disk and cam thereon, has made a half turn the spur wheel is unlocked from the shaft as above mentioned. In the initial movement of the auxiliary shaft the rise of the cam depresses the crank arm 10% and effects the application of the brake to the pulley 22 so as to stop the match machine; and in the continued movement of said shaft the disk lifts the rod 5a which, in turn, effects through the connections described the raising of the pivoted frames 45, a6 and the portions of the carrier supported thereby above the paraflin tank and the composition chest (or chests) respectively.

lVhen it is desired to start the match machine the handle rod is manipulated to clutch the pulley 32 to the shaft 27 and to shift the arms 8%, 85 to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the spur wheel is locked to the auxiliary shaft and the latter is positively moved a half-turn, the disk in its travel effecting the lowering of the splint carrier and the cam permitting the release of the brake, as previously described.

The shaft 27 preferably bears at or near one end a pulley 105 which is adapted to be connected with the usual operating mechanism of the composition roller and adjuncts, in order that such roller may be continuously driven irrespective of the active or idle con dition of the splint carrier.

It is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the specific details of construction herein shown and described, as the mechanisms may be variously modified within the scope. of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary element, transmission devices between said elements, locking and unlocking means between said devices and the auxiliary element, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carriensupport, and starting and stopping mechanism including means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the respective locking and unlocking means.

2. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a brake for said mechanism, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary element, transmission devices between said elements, locking and unlocxing means between said devices and the auxiliary element, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carrier-support, operating means between the auxiliary element and the brake, and starting and stopping mechanism, including means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the. respective looking and unlocking means.

3. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the Carrier, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary element, transmission devices between said elements, said devices including a wheel loosely mounted on the auxiliary element, locking and unlocking means for said wheel, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carrier-support, and starting and stopping mechanism, including means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the respective locking and unlocking means.

a. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a brake for said mechanism, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary element, transmission devices between said elements, said devices including a wheel loosely mounted on the auxiliary element, locking and unlocking means for said wheel, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carrier support, operating means between the auxiliary element and the brake, and starting and stopping mechanism, including means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the respective locking and unlocking means.

5. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary element, transmission devices between said elements, said devices including a wheel loosely mounted on the auxiliary element, having a hub with a plurality of key-ways, a movable key having a member by actuation of which the key is moved to and from locking relation with the hub, and a key-support on the auxiliary element, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carrier support, and starting and stopping mechanism, including means for periodically actuating said key member and means for controlling the operative and in operative conditions of the said locking and unlocking means.

6. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a brake for said mechanism, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary element, transmission devices between said elements, said devices including a wheel loosely mounted on the auxiliary element, having a hub with a plurality of internal ways, a movable key having a member by actuation of which the key is m ved to and from operative relation with the hub, and a key-support on the auxiliary element, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carrier-support, operating means between the auxiliary element and the brake, and starting and stopping mechanism, including means for periodically actuating said key and means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the said locking and unlocking means.

7. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a positively-driven shaft, transmission means between said shaft and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said shaft, an auxiliary shaft, transmission devices between said shafts, locking and unlocking means between said devices and the auxiliary shaft, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary shaft and the carrier support, said last-named means including a rod and crank connection with the auxiliary shaft, and starting and stopping mechanism including means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the respective locking and unlocking means.

8. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carriersupport adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a brake for said mechanism, a positively driven shaft, transmission means between said shaft and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said shaft, an auxiliary shaft, transmission devices between said shafts, locking and unlocking means between said devices and the auxiliary shaft. raising and lowering means between the auxiliary shaft and the carrier support, said last-named means including a rod and crank connection with the auxiliary shaft, brake operating means including a cam on the auxiliary shaft and a cam-actuated brake connection, and starting and stopping mechanism including means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the respective looking and unlocking means.

9. In a match machine, the combination of a splint carrier, a vessel below the path of the carrier, a movable carrier-support adjacent said vessel, drive mechanism for the carrier, a positively driven rotary element, transmission means between said element and the said drive mechanism, locking and unlocking means between said transmission means and said element, an auxiliary rotary naeep'ee element, transmission devices between said elements, said devices including a wheel loosely mounted on the auxiliary element having a hub with a plurality of key-ways,

a movable key having an arm by actuation of which the key is moved into and from looking relation with the hub, and a key support on the auxiliary element, raising and lowering means between the auxiliary element and the carrier support, and starting and stopping mechanism, including two spaced abutment members movable into and from the rotary path of the key-actuating arm and means for controlling the operative and inoperative conditions of the said locking and unlocking means.

Signed at Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, this 21st day of March, A. D. 1917.

WILLIAM ROBERTS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

